It’s hard for any of us to imagine our beloved BlackBerry® smartphone being left in a taxi or getting stolen, but the truth is stuff happens – we misplace things, we accidentally leave behind a bag, or worse. If you’re on a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, the data on your BlackBerry smartphone is backed up by your IT administrator, but what about the rest of us? We want all of you to know that the important (and sometimes sentimental) data such as contacts, calendars, tasks, memos, text messages and browser bookmarks from your missing device can be recovered easily as long as you have BlackBerry Protect set up completely and correctly.

Below are four simple steps to help make sure your data is protected.

Note: BlackBerry Protect is designed for backing up and restoring specific data from your BlackBerry smartphone and for wiping/locking your lost or stolen handset. BlackBerry Protect is not recommended to be used for switching to a new handset. If you want to move the data from one BlackBerry smartphone to a new one you’ve upgraded to, then I would recommend using BlackBerry® Desktop Software.

STEP 1: Set up your BlackBerry® ID on your New Device

If you haven’t already done so, set up your BlackBerry ID on your new device. This must be done because BlackBerry Protect uses your BlackBerry ID to help secure and restore your backed up data wirelessly. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure how to do this, as BlackBerry Protect will prompt you to create a new BlackBerry ID if you do not have one as part of Step 2 below.

STEP 2: Install BlackBerry Protect

The best way to get BlackBerry Protect depends on your operating system. For models running BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and upwards to BlackBerry® 6 OS, the BlackBerry Protect application must be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World™ storefront. For BlackBerry® 7 OS devices, the application is pre-installed on your device – you can find it in the Applications folder.

STEP 3: Do an Initial Backup

The first backup is the most important. If you are having issues with contacting your device for the first time from the BlackBerry Protect web portal, please ensure that you have completed the first backup. The first backup not only saves your data, but it’s also a “handshake” between your smartphone and the website.

The dedicated BlackBerry Protect website is where you can manage your handset and backups, as well as find your smartphone. Since this website allows you to locate your BlackBerry smartphone or wipe all data for security purposes, this is the first place you should visit if your BlackBerry smartphone is lost or stolen. Be sure to write down the URL and keep it in a safe place, or save it as a Favorite on your desktop browser. You can also scan this QR code:

In addition to the above steps, I wanted to point out a few important points related to BlackBerry Protect:

Use BlackBerry Desktop Software for Full Backup of your Data: BlackBerry Protect is designed primarily for a lost or stolen BlackBerry smartphone. BlackBerry Protect doesn’t for example, back up media content, such as your pictures. Make sure you continue using BlackBerry Desktop Software to do a full backup of your handset.

BlackBerry Protect and BlackBerry Enterprise Servers: Be aware that BlackBerry Protect does not support corporate devices connected to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Using BlackBerry Protect to locate your device: If you are not sure where you left your BlackBerry smartphone, by using the “locate on a map” feature in BlackBerry Protect you’ll be able to see where your handset is. Additionally, the “loud ring” feature can help you locate a BlackBerry smartphone lost in the couch cushions by sounding your ringer at full volume, even if the phone is set to vibrate. If you think your phone has been stolen, we recommend that you contact law enforcement and do not try to track down the phone on your own using this feature.

So if you don’t already have BlackBerry Protect set up, I highly recommend doing so – you can thank me later! To check out the full list of features, get support on BlackBerry Protect, or for more information, visit our full info page here: http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software/protect/

Are you already using BlackBerry Protect? Has it gotten you out of some sticky situations? Let us know in the comments!

About Luke Reimer

@Luke_Reimer is a Senior Marketing Manager at BlackBerry helping to design, launch, and manage enterprise marketing programs - particularly concerning content across digital mediums. Beyond spreading BlackBerry goodness in enterprise communities, you can find Luke cooking up a storm, out on his motorcycle (when Canadian weather allows), or digging into a good science fiction book.

The views expressed on any corporate or individual's personal website or any Twitter account are not necessarily those of BlackBerry. The user's Twitter account and/or personal website, any corporate website, or any comments contained on any of the foregoing have not been reviewed by BlackBerry and do not constitute an endorsement by BlackBerry.